Bite Me Cancer
Bite Me Cancer is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that distributes free Teen Support Bags to teenagers with cancer via 210+ hospital partners nationwide, funds thyroid cancer research grants through the American Thyroid Association, and awards college scholarships to teen cancer survivors in MD, VA, and DC.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersOakton, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Bite Me Cancer does
Bite Me Cancer, Inc. is a Virginia-domiciled 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation (Federal EIN 27-3554181) founded in September 2010 by Nikki Ferraro, who was diagnosed with medullary thyroid cancer at age 17 in April 2010. The organization operates as an all-volunteer entity with no paid staff, headquartered at 2201 Cooperative Way, Suite 600, Herndon, Virginia. Its mission is to provide inspiration, education, and research support specifically for teenagers with cancer and for thyroid cancer — a niche it identifies as underserved by both pediatric and adult cancer support organizations.
Bite Me Cancer firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bite Me Cancer
- Legal name
- Bite Me Cancer, Inc.
- Website
- https://bitemecancer.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Bite Me Cancer is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that distributes free Teen Support Bags to teenagers with cancer via 210+ hospital partners nationwide, funds thyroid cancer research grants through the American Thyroid Association, and awards college scholarships to teen cancer survivors in MD, VA, and DC.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bite Me Cancer industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Cancer Support Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411)
- SIC
- Services-Health Services (8000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Chronic Disease & Health Promotion Program Funding (HLAJALAJ), Community Health & Prevention Program Funding (HLAJALAF)
Keywords
Where Bite Me Cancer is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oakton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Bite Me Cancer business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others, Personnel
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: One-time and monthly donations from individual supporters to support Teen Support Bags program and thyroid cancer research.
- Event Fundraising: Annual wine dinner events, Dave & Buster's events, 5K runs/walks, and other community fundraising events.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Annual corporate sponsorships at various levels (Empower, Impact, Inspire, Support) covering 12-month periods for Teen Support Bags, thyroid cancer research, or general fund.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise through CafePress including t-shirts, wristbands, and other gear.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Teen Support Bags - $100 per bag |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Sponsorship Tiers |
| Other | Annual | Attitude is Everything Scholarship |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
Bite Me Cancer product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bite Me Cancer is a nonprofit foundation that assembles and distributes free Teen Support Bags containing age-appropriate comfort items (wireless ear buds, journals, coloring books, stress balls, fidget toys, water bottles, and more) to teenagers aged approximately 13-19 battling all types of cancer, delivered through 210+ hospital partners across all 50 states and DC. The foundation also directly funds 2-year thyroid cancer research grants through the American Thyroid Association, awards college scholarships to teen cancer survivors in MD, VA, and DC, and operates educational and awareness programs for teen and thyroid cancer.
Product overview
Bite Me Cancer is a nonprofit foundation founded in September 2010 by Nikki Ferraro, diagnosed with medullary thyroid cancer at age 17. The organization operates as a unified nonprofit entity providing a portfolio of programs centered on teen cancer support. Its core offerings include the Teen Support Bag Program (distributing free bags with age-appropriate items to teen cancer patients through 210+ hospital partners in all 50 states), Thyroid Cancer Research Grants (funding 2-year research grants via American Thyroid Association partnership), the Attitude is Everything Scholarship (college scholarships for teen cancer survivors in MD, VA, DC), Teen Cancer Awareness Week (advocacy initiative in Virginia), Thyroid Cancer Education resources, and community events including the annual Wine Dinner and Dave & Buster's events. The organization is announcing its closure in 2027 while continuing operations through 2026.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Teen Support Bag Program Provides free Teen Support Bags containing age-appropriate comfort items (wireless ear buds, adult coloring books, journals, stress balls, knit beanie hats, water bottles, gamebooks, fidget toys, and more) to teenagers aged approximately 13-19 battling all types of cancer. Each bag costs $100 to assemble and ship. Bags are distributed through 210+ hospital partners who provide them to teen patients during treatment.
- Thyroid Cancer Research Grants Directly funds 2-year thyroid cancer research grants in partnership with the American Thyroid Association (ATA), which manages the rigorous peer-review selection process. Grants support researchers studying new treatment approaches for thyroid cancer, including medullary thyroid cancer, at institutions such as MD Anderson, Memorial Sloan Kettering, Harvard Medical School, and Emory University. Some grants are co-funded with ThyCa (Thyroid Cancer Survivors Association).
- Attitude is Everything Scholarship College scholarship program supporting teenagers with cancer who reside in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington DC. Applications open January 18 and close March 1 each year, with winners notified by April 30. The scholarship helps teen cancer survivors pursue higher education.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 15,000 Teen Support Bags distributed to teenagers with cancer
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Bite Me Cancer
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Bite Me Cancer technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Bite Me Cancer partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- ThyCa (Thyroid Cancer Survivors Association)coreBite Me Cancer has partnered with ThyCa to share grants for thyroid cancer research. Some research grants are co-funded with ThyCa and overseen/managed by ATA.
- American Thyroid Association (ATA)coreSince 2012, Bite Me Cancer has partnered with ATA to fund thyroid cancer research grants. The partnership involves a rigorous review process managed by ATA. Bite Me Cancer provides funding while ATA handles grant selection and oversight. The foundation became an official grant partner in 2013 and selected its first researcher in 2014.
- Inova Children's HospitalcoreBite Me Cancer maintains an ongoing partnership with Inova Children's Hospital in Fairfax, VA. The foundation delivers monthly meals to families on the pediatric oncology floor, and Child Life Specialist Holly Senn coordinates Teen Support Bag distribution and other activities at the hospital.
- 210+ Hospital PartnerscoreOver 210 hospitals and treatment centers across all 50 states and DC distribute Teen Support Bags to teen cancer patients. Partners include major children's hospitals such as Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Children's National, Boston Children's, and many others.
- Corporate SponsorssupportingVarious corporate sponsors support the foundation at different levels: Empower (Map Your Show), Impact (Brambleton Soave Real Estate, Map Your Show, TM Associates), Inspire (KT Enterprises, Training Solutions, Inc.), and Support (Expovision, Metro Group, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, Tom Coughlin Jay Fund, Urban, Ltd.) sponsors.
- Network for GoodsupportingNetwork for Good provides the donation and event ticketing platform used by Bite Me Cancer for online donations, event registrations (wine dinners, Dave & Buster's events), and peer-to-peer fundraising.
- CafePresssupportingCafePress provides the e-commerce platform for Bite Me Cancer's branded merchandise store, selling t-shirts, wristbands, and other promotional items.
- Westwood Country ClubsupportingWestwood Country Club in Vienna, VA hosts the annual Wine Dinner fundraiser. The venue has been the location for the foundation's signature annual event since 2019.
- Dave & Buster's (Fairfax)supportingDave & Buster's in Fairfax, VA hosts free events for teenagers with cancer and their families, providing free game cards and food. Multiple events have been held since 2022, with General Manager Bill Finkle coordinating the venues.
- National Association of BroadcasterssupportingDonated corporate suites at Washington Nationals games and Washington Capitals games, allowing Bite Me Cancer to host families of teens with cancer for free and sell tickets to supporters.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Bite Me Cancer competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Make-A-Wish Foundation: Broad incumbent delivering emotional/experiential support to children with critical illnesses (including teen cancer patients). Comparable to Bite Me Cancer's Teen Support Bag program in mission and beneficiary demographic, but focused on experience-based wishes rather than tangible comfort items.
- Cancer Research Institute: Broad incumbent funding peer-reviewed cancer research grants through a structured review process analogous to how Bite Me Cancer channels dollars through the American Thyroid Association. Comparable on the research-grant-funding mechanism but covers all cancer types.
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: Broad incumbent in pediatric cancer that funds research and provides patient/family support services. Overlaps with Bite Me Cancer's mission on both the research-grant side (via ALSAC/St. Jude funding mechanisms) and the teen-patient support side, but at much larger scale and broader age scope.
- American Cancer Society: Broad incumbent in cancer support and research funding; the original Relay for Life fundraising model is what Bite Me Cancer's founder Nikki Ferraro ran in 2010 to raise the foundation's first $22,000. Competes for the same donor dollars across a much wider programmatic portfolio.
- National Pediatric Cancer Foundation: Broad incumbent focused specifically on pediatric cancer research funding, comparable to Bite Me Cancer's ATA-managed thyroid cancer research grant program. Operates at larger scale across all pediatric cancers rather than the teen-specific niche.
Direct peers
- Teen Cancer America: Direct peer founded to address the same gap Bite Me Cancer targets: teens and young adults with cancer. Both organizations focus exclusively on the adolescent/young adult oncology age band that pediatric and adult hospitals underserve, and both work through hospital partnerships rather than direct clinical care.
- Ulman Foundation: Direct peer serving adolescents and young adults affected by cancer through community-building, scholarships, and hospital-based support programs. Operates the same teen/young adult cancer support niche as Bite Me Cancer, including scholarship programs analogous to the 'Attitude is Everything' scholarship.
- Hope for Young Adults with Cancer: Emerging player focused on young adults with cancer (ages 18-40), directly adjacent to Bite Me Cancer's teen (13-19) demographic. Both target the underserved adolescent/young adult oncology cohort that falls between pediatric and adult cancer services.
- ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association: Direct peer in thyroid cancer focus and an active co-funding partner with Bite Me Cancer on ATA-managed research grants. Serves overlapping beneficiary population (thyroid cancer patients/survivors) and is documented in Bite Me Cancer's partnership portfolio since 2014.
Emerging players
- Critical Mass: The Young Adult Cancer Alliance: Emerging player advocating for adolescents and young adults with cancer, comparable in mission scope to Bite Me Cancer's Teen Cancer Awareness Week advocacy work in Virginia. Operates more as a coalition/advocacy body than a direct service provider.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bite Me Cancer social profiles
Digital presenceBite Me Cancer financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bite Me Cancer leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Bite Me Cancer funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bite Me Cancer M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bite Me Cancer
What does Bite Me Cancer do?
Bite Me Cancer is a nonprofit foundation that assembles and distributes free Teen Support Bags containing age-appropriate comfort items (wireless ear buds, journals, coloring books, stress balls, fidget toys, water bottles, and more) to teenagers aged approximately 13-19 battling all types of cancer, delivered through 210+ hospital partners across all 50 states and DC. The foundation also directly funds 2-year thyroid cancer research grants through the American Thyroid Association, awards college scholarships to teen cancer survivors in MD, VA, and DC, and operates educational and awareness programs for teen and thyroid cancer.
Is Bite Me Cancer a public or private company?
Bite Me Cancer is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Bite Me Cancer founded?
Bite Me Cancer was founded in 2010. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Bite Me Cancer based?
Bite Me Cancer is headquartered in Oakton, United States, in the North America region.
How does Bite Me Cancer make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are event Fundraising, corporate Sponsorships and merchandise Sales.
Who are Bite Me Cancer's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Make-A-Wish Foundation, Cancer Research Institute, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, American Cancer Society and National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. Direct peers are Teen Cancer America, Ulman Foundation, Hope for Young Adults with Cancer and ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association. Critical Mass: The Young Adult Cancer Alliance is listed as an emerging player.
Does Bite Me Cancer have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bite Me Cancer.
What industry is Bite Me Cancer in?
Bite Me Cancer's product category is Nonprofit Cancer Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAK, Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits, with a secondary code of HLAJALAJ, Chronic Disease & Health Promotion Program Funding. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8000.